Sony Trademark May Hint at a New PlayStation Vita Model

A new report indicates that Sony could unleash refreshed version of the PlayStation Vita to give gamers access to full video playback on the TV through an HDMI port.

Apparently, a trademark for a redesigned model has been filed in Japan. The trademark, which first surfaced on Twitter, gives a rare look at the handheld console. It's described as a "portable LCD screen game machine controller", and was filed on April 1.

The next-generation PS Vita looks very identical to last year's PS Vita 2000 model. However, the new model is rumored to come with an HDMI port, first pointed by NeoGAF user Jignx (via IGN).

What's more, the only immediate difference is a new slot on the left-hand side that resembles the SIM card slot present on the original PS Vita (3G version). This could indicate that Sony is planning to feature LTE/3G connectivity on the next-generation PS Vita.

We can't conclude anything from the latest leak because it is only a mere speculation and even if Sony is planning to announce the refreshed version of the PS Vita, we'll get to know at this year's E3 gaming conference.

So far, Sony hasn't indicated its plans to come up with a reincarnated version of its PlayStation Vita handheld console, but if the above rumor comes true, the PS Vita 3000 is likely to go on sale in Japan, followed by other major territories, including the US and the UK.